National Day Of Prayer To Be Celebrated In Newtown

A National Day of Prayer gathering will be held at The Pleasance in Newtown, 1 Main Street (at Route 302/Sugar Street) on Thursday, May 7, from 6 to 7:30 pm. In case of rain the celebration will move to The Alexandria Room at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street.

The history of the National Day of Prayer dates back to the 1775 Continental Congress, said Jean Steber, who is coordinating the event through the Newtown Committee of the National Day of Prayer. “At that time a call of prayer and fasting was issued to this fledgling body of patriots and God’s Sovereign Will brought a new nation into being,” she said. The first Thursday in May has been set aside for the annual observance of the National Day of Prayer since 1988.

“Over the years, Presidents, Congress, and the Supreme Courts have supported and encouraged our need to call upon God’s help,” she continued. “Governor M. Jodi Rell has written a formal statement declaring May 7, 2009, as a day in which all people throughout the state of Connecticut can meet publicly and pray to our Heavenly Father for His mercy and guidance.”

This year’s event, the 58th annual such event, will follow the theme of “Prayer … America’s Hope” and is based on the verse from Psalm 33:22 which states: “May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”

The service will include a series of Scripture readings, each followed by prayers for seven elements: government (federal, state, and local), the military, media, business, education, church, and family. There will also be hymns, and Newtown High School senior Quinlan Mitchell will be the evening’s soloist.

“What’s interesting about this Day of Prayer is that over the years it has been organized so that nearly every community will have a service,” Ms Steber said this week. “This year there are so many services planned that every town and city will either have its own service or it will be prayed for in a neighboring community’s service.”

Attendees are asked to bring chairs or blankets for seating.

Parking at The Pleasance is limited, but overflow parking will be allowed along Sugar Street (Route 302) and at Dickinson Park and Liberty Field, both on Elm Drive. Ms Steber said this week that the police department has asked that parking along Route 302 be limited to one side of the road, so attendees are asked to follow that request.

For additional information call Jan Johnston, 426-9055.